Charles p



(No Model.)

C. P. TURNER. ELEGTROLYTIGAL ABPARATUS.

Patented Mar. 2, 1897.

UNiTE STATES Arnim* rines,

CHARLES P. TURNER, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

ELECTROLYTICALAPPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,171, dated March 2, 1897'.

Application iilecl February 8, 1896. Serial No. 578,542. (No model.)

To LLZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. TURNER, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Electrolytical Apparatus, of which the rfollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to electrolytical apparatus for the separation of metals from their ores; and the object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus which is sim ple and durable in construction and arranged to separate the precious metal from the ore and without mixing the gangue with the electrolyte.

The invention will be fully described hereinafter and its novel features pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l isa sectional side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the ore-containing receptacle, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the same with part of the lining omitted and showing transverse partitions in section substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

The improved apparatus is provided with a tank A, adapted to contain the electrolyte B, and supporting a cathode C, connected with a dynamo D or other source of electrical supply, the dynamo being also connected with an anode in the form of a receptacle E, adapted to be suspended in said tank A or removed therefrom by a suitble hoisting device F. The receptacle E is preferably made in the form of a cage having its frame composed of metallic bars E', covered withasuitable fabric E2, such as hair, cotton, or linen cloth, and of a iineness that will keep the granulated or pulverized ore from dropping or sifting through the lininginto the electrolyte B. The lining, as well as the metal bars E', is covered by a conducting substance, preferably a carbon mixture, which will preserve the metal and cloth from corrosion, and at the same time is a good conductor of electricity.

Vithin the receptacle I may arrange a series of transverse partitions, as shown at E5. (See Fig. 3.)

The receptacle E may also be made of other material than metal and coated with an anticorrosive substance or material and an outer coating of carbon or other conducting material, so that a connection may be made with the material or ore contained in said crate and the electrolyte and complete the circuit through said electrolyte and metallic conductors to the dynamo and to the cathode, thereby forming a perfect circuit.

The receptacle above described may be supported by top, sides, or bottom for the purpose mentioned.

The receptacle E is provided at its ends with ears E3, adapted to be engaged by the,

hooks F of the hoisting device F, so as to conveniently attach or detach the hoisting device to or from the receptacle, the latter being also provided on its bottom with an eye E4 for conveniently emptying the receptacle of the gangue after the electrolytical process is completed and the receptacle has been removed from the tank.

Now it will be seen that by the arrangement described the ore contained in the receptacle E is subjected to the electrical action of the current, so that .the precious metal is taken up by the electrolyte B and deposited on the cathode C in the usual manner.

It will also be seen that by the arrangement described the gangue remaining in the receptacle E is not liable to pass into the electrolyte, and consequently the gangue is always kept separate from the electrolyte and may be readily removedy upon removing the receptacle E from the tank A after the process is completed.

The purpose of the partitions E5 is to divide the ore to be treated into smaller lumps or masses, thus facilitating the access of the electrolyte to the center of each lump, also preventing too close packing of the ore.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl l. An electrolytical apparatus, comprising a tank adapted to contain the electrolyte and provided with an electrode, and av transversely-partitioned receptacle adapted to contain the ore and to be set in said tank, the said receptacle having perforated walls and being made of a non-conducting fabric coated IOO with a conducting substance, and means for connecting said substance with a source of electrical supply, so as to form the other electrode, substantiallyT as described.

2. An electrolytical apparatus, provided with an anode consisting of a non-cond ucting receptacle coated with an anticorrosive substance and provided with an outer coating of a conducting material, and means for connecting said outer coating with the positive pole of a source of electrical supply, substantially as shown and described.

3. A receptacle adapted to constitute the anode of an electrolytical apparatus, said receptacle consisting of a frame, a lining secured to said frame and forming the Walls of the receptacle, the lining being made of a non-couducting open fabric so as to afford perforations for the entrance of the electrolyte, and a conducting-coating for the lining, said coating being provided with means for connecting it with the positive pole of a source of electrical supply, substantially as described.

4. A receptacle adapted to constitute the anode of an electrolytical apparatus, consisting of bars forming a frame, an open-ineshed or porous non-conducting fabric secured to said bars and forming the Walls of the receptacle, and a conductingsubstance on the outer surface of said walls, said substance being provided with means for connecting it with the positive pole of a source of electrical supply, substantially as described.

5. A receptacle adapted to constitute ille anode of an electrolytical apparatus, consisting of bars forming a frame, an open-lneshed or porous fabric secured to said bars and forming the Walls of the receptacle, an anticorrosive coating' on the outer surface of said fabric, and a conducting substance on said coatin g, said subst-ance bein g provided with means for connecting it with the positive pole of a source of electrical supply, substantially as described.

CHARLES P. TURNER. Titnessesz J AMES M. HENLEY, F. XV. HANAFORD. 

